In recent weeks, the MWOTY team has been excited and proud to see many of its amazing alumni shortlisted in a host of national and regional awards.
MWOTY 2025 alumni, Katie Bowater, Steph Barney and Justine McLaughlin have all been named finalists at the Merseyside Independent Business Awards (MIBS) 2025. Katie has been shortlisted in the Professional Services Business of the Year and Business Person of the Year categories, recognising her work through the Young Entrepreneurs Club, Steph’s Girls on the Go is a finalist in the Best Start-Up category, while Justine’s business, Phantom Digital, has been recognised as a finalist in the Digital & Technology Business of the Year category. Justine has also been shortlisted in the Northern England Business Woman of the Year National Business Woman’s Awards which take place in London in October.
Overall Merseyside Woman of the Year 2014, Sara Lawton’s CIC Thrive has been shortlisted in the new Community Interest Company of the Year category, while MWOTY 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year, Amanda Unsworth has been named a finalist in the Trades or Manufacturing Business of the Year category for her business, Trinity Logistics.
There’s also a huge MWOTY alumni presence in this year’s Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs). MWOTY 2025 category winners Gillian Ashcroft and Andrea Newton have been shortlisted in the Inspirational Women category, alongside MWOTY 2019’s One to Watch winner, Jess Gallier-Booth. MWOTY Women of Courage 2023 winner, Allison Furlong has been shortlisted in the Not for Profit Category, for her work with Alfie’s Squad, and MWOTY 2025 category winner, Katie Bowater makes yet another shortlist, in the Young Entrepreneur category.
Gillian is also set to be presented with the Unsung Hero Award at the national This Is Icon Awards, during London Fashion Week in September.
In the Liverpool Chamber Innovation in Business Awards, MWOTY 2025 Women of Courage finalist, Hayley Smallman has been shortlisted in the Trailblazer Award category, for her work with Woodlands Hospice and Alfie Fitzsimmons, founder of Alfie’s Squad has been shortlisted in the Rising Star Award.
Ellie Kerr, MWOTY Founding Director said: “Wow, wow, wow. We are unbelievably proud of our incredible alumni, who continue to go from strength to strength. MWOTY prides itself on finding the region’s hidden gems and providing a platform to be seen, heard and found, but it is of course the tireless work of the individuals and the teams that they lead that propels them on. We are so proud of each and every one of our alumni who have been recognised in other awards and we wish them the best of luck, because we know they deserve to win!”
